Groenkloof Nature Reserve Victims

[River Rat]

Request for community support

To the Friends of Groenkloof Nature Reserve (FGNR), people who love the incredible nature we have been blessed with in the Groenkloof, Klapperkop and the Voortrekker Monument Nature Reserves, and those of us who would like to see our children inherit these natural assets as well.

 

I attended the Groenkloof Public Meeting on 10 May. From a personal perspective, this meeting was much more than a gripe session about security issues in our area. It was a meeting that gave me hope! For the first time I really witnessed what politicians always call "the community” - come together en masse - to firmly state that we won’t allow our natural assets to be squandered by poor management, crime, bad policing, and hopelessly uncoordinated actions between different stakeholder groups. I saw "the community” which it must be emphasised, included all races, unite around the issue of protecting the Groenkloof, Klapperkop and the Voortrekker Monument Nature Reserves.I saw what impact a few concerned community members can have, to bring about change. In this regard, I would like to thank Rob King and Robrecht Tryhou in particular for their efforts and for mobilizing so many of us to take a firm stance.

 

As Rob indicated in his feedback report, the brave victims of the recent crimes stood up at the meeting to convey the impact these attacks have had on their lives - not to put a spotlight on themselves, but to convey in no uncertain terms what will happen if the current situation perpetuates. Taschia Slabbert, a teacher from Kempton Park, had saved for many, many years to buy a high end Canon camera that cost her R33,000, to participate in photography competitions. She went with her mom to Groenkloof to take pictures for an upcoming nature photography competition, when she and her mom was brutally robbed and assaulted. She relayed how Eric Tishoko put his life on the line to chase the criminals away and in so doing prevent the rape that the criminals had clearly contemplated.

 

We heard from Nadine Hugo, a 22-year old medical student, who was cycling at the beautiful surrounds of the Voortrekker Monument Nature Reserve, when she was brutally relieved of her mountain bike. She suffered permanent damage to her hand. Nadine would love to put the ordeal behind her and get back on a mountain bike, but doesn’t have the funds for a replacement.Saloshani Pather pointed out the hopelessly flawed processes to report crimes to the senior SAPS members who were in attendance. Well done Saloshani!

 

As I was quietly listening to these stories, I remembered the famous quote by Edmund Burke:

“All that is required for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing.”

 

At the conclusion of the meeting, as people were preparing to leave, I was compelled to stand up to request that we - the community - do something together as a visible sign of our solidarity. I could think of nothing better than for us to contribute towards a fund for the victims to replace what they had lost. With this, I would like to appeal to everyone who attended, and for everyone who wants to take a stand, to make a contribution so that at least Taschia can get a new camera, and Nadine can get a new mountain bike. It doesn’t matter how big or small the contribution is - what matters is that we do this together. If we raise more than we need, lets keep the fund going for the victims of other crimes in our are and our community. Sadly, today there was another attack and we will assess whether any support is required as well.

 

Personally, I have contributed R5,000 as I promised at the meeting. Even MMC Subesh Pillay agreed in the meeting that the City of Tswane will also contribute. If you feel compelled to join in, please consider making a deposit to the following bank account:

Account name: Friends of Groenkloof Nature Reserve
Account no: 620 4620 4830
Bank: First National Bank
Branch: Brooklyn
Branch code: 251345
Reference: Victims Fund

Please email confirmation of payment to rtryhou@icon.co.za.

 

I conclude this heartfelt plea for support with a reminder of the words of Desmond Tutu:

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

 

With much thanks and appreciation to the community,

Louis Geeringh

[River Rat]

bump

[Sparki 1]

Maybe a good idea would be to go to the police dept and look up all theft and robbery cases over the past say 5 yrs or so and include those people to the victims fund. i'm sure there must have been more incidents. maybe even advertise in your local community paper all those who were robbed etc...to come forward and reveal what was lost and the amount thereof and include that as well.  Maybe an even brighter idea would be to take the funds collected and use it to make the area safer? Please please please give us feedback as to how it goes, If it goes well, many of us can learn from this and see if we too can start a fund for our victims in our areas.

Best of luck.

[River Rat]

Sparki I'll ask FGNR to keep us updated on how it's going. There have been some discussions as to what to do with the funds if they exceed the requirements of the two ladies very much in line with your thinking.

[River Rat]

bump